Nutrition and Cancer PreventionNutrition and Cancer PreventionElisa V. Bandera, MD, PhDElisa V. Bandera, MD, PhD

The Causes of Cancer in the US.

Diet30%

Tobacco30%

Infection5%

Alcohol3%

Pollution2%

Reproductive factors3%

Occupation5%

Family history5 %

Sedentary lifestyle5%

Other12%

(Harvard Center for Cancer Prevention)

Guidelines for Cancer Prevention

• Maintain a healthy weight• Get at least 30 minutes of physical activity every day• Don’t smoke• Eat a healthy diet• Drink less than one alcoholic drink a day• Protect yourself from the sun• Protect yourself and your partner(s) from sexually

transmitted infections.

(Harvard Center for Cancer Prevention)

More than two thirds of the causes of cancer are preventable

• Smoking• Diet• Alcohol• Obesity• Physical inactivity

American Cancer Society Guidelines on Nutrition and Physical Activity

for Cancer Prevention, 2001

• Eat a variety of healthful foods, with an emphasis on plant sources.– Eat five or more servings of a variety vegetables and fruitsvegetables and fruits each day.– Choose whole grainswhole grains in preference to processed (refined) grains and sugars.– Limit your consumption of red meats, especially those high in fat and

processed.– Choose foods that maintain a healthful weight.

• Adopt a physically activephysically active lifestyle.• Maintain a healthful weighthealthful weight throughout your life.• If you drink alcoholic beveragesalcoholic beverages, limit consumption.

(Byers et al., CA Cancer J Clin, 2002)

Healthy NJ 2010- Nutrition Goals

• To increase the percentage of persons aged 18 and over eating at least five daily servings of fruits and vegetables (including legumes) to 35%.

• To reduce the percentage of persons aged 18 and over who are overweight but not obese to 27.6% for all adults.

• To reduce the percentage of persons aged 18 and over who are obese to 12% of all adults.

• Increase the percentage of persons aged 18 and over who participate in frequent, leisure time physical activity during the past month to 42.5%.

Fruit and vegetable consumption 5+ times a day New Jersey vs. nationwide – BRFSS, 2002

05

101520253035404550

Males Females Total

New JerseyNationwide

28.2%

22.6%

Perc

ent /

Med

ian

(CDC- Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System, 2002)

Healthy NJ 2010 Target

Preferred Healthy NJ2010 Endpoint

Consumption of fruits and vegetables* in New Jersey and nationwide.

Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System, 1990-2000.

*% of respondents 18 and older who report they are not consumingfive or more servings of fruits and vegetables a day.

Are you in the “healthy healthy weightweight” area?

18.5%

Obesity trends in New Jersey and nationwide. Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System, 1990-2000.

20.1%

Healthy NJ 2010 Target

12%12%

*All respondents 18 and older who report that their Body Mass Index (BMI) is 30.0 or more. BMI is defined as weight in kilograms divided by height in meters squared (w/h**2).

Obesity Trends* Among U.S. AdultsBRFSS, 1991-2002

1991 1995

2002

No Data <10% 10%–14 15%–19% 20%–24% ≥25%

Nutrition and Physical Activity GoalsNJ Comprehensive Cancer Control Plan

• To promote long-term healthy eating patterns, healthy weight, and physical activity for cancer prevention among New Jersey residents.

• To increase research on effective dietary and physical activity approaches for the prevention of cancer and increasing survivorship of cancer patients.

• To assure proper nutritional care for cancer patients.

WCRF/AICR Report,1997Conclusions

“Between 30% and 40% of all cases of cancer are preventable by feasible and appropriate diets and by physical activity and maintenance of appropriate body weight.”

WCRF/AICR Report,1997Conclusions

“Diets containing substantial and varied amount of vegetable and fruits will prevent 20% or more of all cases of cancer.”

WCRF/AICR Report,1997Conclusions

“Keeping alcohol intake within the recommended limits will prevent up to 20% of cases of cancers of the aerodigestive tract, the colon and rectum, and breast.”

Willett, 2001

" Let food be thy medicine…“- Hippocrates circa 431 B.C.

" Let food be thy medicine…“- Hippocrates circa 431 B.C.

…choose wisely…choose wisely